More power to your elbow Eric!

The Harvey Centre's Daring Dad Challenge Week focused on the mind today as Eric Rogers was faced with breaking three concrete blocks with his elbow.

Day three of the Harvey Centre's challenge week in Harlow dawned rather grey and overcast. However there was no mistaking the air of excitement inside the Centre as once again, Eric Rogers lined up for yet another ‘Daring Dad' challenge.

For supporters and family the week had been exciting and anxious, as Eric faced up to two of his biggest fears – walking on broken glass and eating unknown exotic bugs. So today in fact, Eric was calm and collected, looking forward to completing this task.

However, what none of them knew was that while he had been told he was going to break one block, organisers and experts had decided to challenge him further and ask him to believe that he could break three concrete blocks using only his elbow.

Staff had once again cleared a large area, set up barriers and the PA system and also a webcam, so the event could be streamed to the internet for Eric's colleagues who couldn't make it down to the Centre and then upload it to YouTube later.

While Piero and Claudia Barba of Haywards Heath's Reiwaryu Ryushikan Karatedo Club took Eric through some warm-up and focusing exercises, Eric's wife and son were among the crowd looking on with interest and excitement. Rowen explained that Eric had been looking forward to this event, but that she had some trepidation, “Eric can't straighten his arm fully having injured it in the past, so I'm glad he doesn't have to ‘karate chop' the blocks like you see in films.

“But looking at the moves they are doing now, I am starting to get a little nervous for him!” Claudia and Piero talked and guided Eric through leg stretches, shoulder and hip exercises aimed at warming up his back and bringing his adrenaline and potential fear under control.

Then, while Claudia and Eric sat quietly, Piero set up the three concrete blocks for Claudia to demonstrate on. After a final bow, Claudia stepped up to the mat and as the crowd hushed, positioned herself by the blocks. Suddenly she moved, struck and the blocks fell to the ground, shattered!

To applause Eric then stepped up to face his challenge. Once again, 5^th Dan Renshi (senior instructor) Peiro Barba set up three concrete blocks and talked Eric through the task one final time. As the crowd fell completely silent, holding its breath, Eric placed his feet in position and concentrating only on Piero's voice and the blocks, prepared to attempt to break three blocks using only his elbow.

Without any fanfare he suddenly twisted and driving down with his elbow, broke through all three blocks towards the floor! Once again, applause and cheers rang out as Eric stood up and bowed to Piero and Claudia.

“What a feeling! I am completely adrenalized!” he said, although he wasn't the only one. Rowen was still shaking at least five minutes later.

Bryan Young, Centre Manager was equally excited by the event, “We have loved having Eric and his family here this week. Eric is a warm, kind, friendly and quiet guy who happens to have a hunger to do all sorts of daring stunts for charity. The more we have challenged him this week, the stronger he has been and while I have to confess I had a tiny doubt when I saw the three blocks, as soon as I saw how calm and focused he was when he prepared to strike, I knew that he would complete this challenge too.

“Eric is hoping to raise over £500 for Accuro and PACT Harlow and I have no doubt that due to his generous and brave nature and the kindness of our customers, we will easily beat his target. I understand he has sponsorship of around £400 and at least £100 has been pledged via our justgiving page, but I urge all Harlow shoppers to come to the Centre in the next couple of days and drop whatever change they can spare into our collecting buckets as they support Eric's final two challenges.”

The search for the Harvey Centre's Daring Dad 2009 will commence next week. The video of today's challenge will be posted via www.harveycentre.com and is currently available on www.justin.tv/pedro_90

The Challenges continue every day this week at 1pm in the Harvey Centre, with Creepy crawlies from Paradise Wildlife Park on Thursday and finishing with Eric learning to ride a Unicycle on Friday! Eric is raising money for two Harlow charities, Accuro and PACT Harlow and has raised nearly £400 in sponsorship already. People can donate at the Centre or via www.justgiving.com/daringdad